Mexican Evening Primrose – Oenothera speciosa

Mexican Evening Primrose is a wild and vigorous little groundcover with a whole lot of flower power. Though it’s true that this perennial is sometimes frowned upon for its invasive tendencies elsewhere in the U.S., controlling its spread in Arizona is as simple as controlling the amount of water it receives. It grows quickly and easily in moist, amended soils, but is much less enthusiastic about spreading into native, rocky soils with no water source. If you do want it to spread over banks or large areas, give it some water to get established and watch it grow! Once established, Mexican evening primrose can survive on annual rainfall alone, but it will give you more fragrant pink flowers and lush green growth with occasional irrigation. Height: 6 – 12 inches Width: 2 – 3 feet Bloom color: Pink Flowering season: Spring, Summer, Fall USDA minimum zone: 5 Cold hardiness: -20° F